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    AB-404
    Natural Resources & Water

    California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: prescribed fire, reforestation, habitat restoration, thinning, or fuel reduction projects.

    Introduced
    CA
    ∙
    2025-2026 Regular Session
    0
    0
    Track
    Track

    Key Takeaways

    • Permanently exempts forest health projects on federal lands from state environmental review requirements.
    • Authorizes advance grant payments up to 25% for forest improvement projects to eligible organizations.
    • Requires grantees to spend advance payments within six months and file quarterly accountability reports.

    Summary

    Assembly Member Sanchez proposes permanently extending California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) exemptions for specific forestry projects on federal lands that have undergone federal environmental review. The exemptions, currently set to expire in 2028, apply to prescribed fire, reforestation, habitat restoration, thinning, and fuel reduction projects aimed at reducing high-severity wildfire risks.

    The exemption applies when state or local agencies primarily provide funding or staffing, or when projects are undertaken through federal Good Neighbor Authority agreements. Lead agencies must file exemption notices with the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation and county clerks, post notices online with links to federal environmental review documents, and submit documentation to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection when it is not the lead agency. The bill maintains existing provisions allowing the Natural Resources Agency Secretary to report substantial changes in federal environmental laws affecting California forest management to the Legislature by February 2027.

    While extending CEQA exemptions creates a state-mandated local program through ongoing procedural requirements, the bill specifies that local agencies and school districts require no state reimbursement, as they retain authority to levy service charges and fees sufficient to cover associated costs. The measure preserves current grant-making authorities for forest health projects and advance payment provisions for eligible entities, including tribes, nonprofits, and local agencies.

    Key Dates

    Next Step
    Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Natural Resources
    Next Step
    Assembly Committee
    Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Natural Resources
    Hearing has not been scheduled yet
    Read first time. To print.
    Assembly Floor
    Read first time. To print.
    Read first time. To print.

    Contacts

    Profile
    Al MuratsuchiD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Ash KalraD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Heath FloraR
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Buffy WicksD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Isaac BryanD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    0 of 16 row(s) selected.
    Page 1 of 4
    Select All Legislators
    Profile
    Al MuratsuchiD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Ash KalraD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Heath FloraR
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Buffy WicksD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Isaac BryanD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Matt HaneyD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Juan AlanisR
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Damon ConnollyD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Josh HooverR
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Gail PellerinD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Kate SanchezR
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Rick ZburD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Robert GarciaD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Alexandra MacedoR
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Rhodesia RansomD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Nick SchultzD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member

    Similar Past Legislation

    Bill NumberTitleIntroduced DateStatusLink to Bill
    California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: prescribed fire, thinning, and fuel reduction projects.
    January 2021
    Failed
    View Bill
    Showing 1 of 1 items
    Page 1 of 1

    Get Involved

    Act Now!

    Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

    Introduced By

    Kate Sanchez
    Kate SanchezR
    California State Assembly Member
    10% progression
    Bill has been formally introduced and read for the first time in its house of origin (2/4/2025)

    Key Takeaways

    • Permanently exempts forest health projects on federal lands from state environmental review requirements.
    • Authorizes advance grant payments up to 25% for forest improvement projects to eligible organizations.
    • Requires grantees to spend advance payments within six months and file quarterly accountability reports.

    Get Involved

    Act Now!

    Email the authors or create an email template to send to all relevant legislators.

    Introduced By

    Kate Sanchez
    Kate SanchezR
    California State Assembly Member

    Summary

    Assembly Member Sanchez proposes permanently extending California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) exemptions for specific forestry projects on federal lands that have undergone federal environmental review. The exemptions, currently set to expire in 2028, apply to prescribed fire, reforestation, habitat restoration, thinning, and fuel reduction projects aimed at reducing high-severity wildfire risks.

    The exemption applies when state or local agencies primarily provide funding or staffing, or when projects are undertaken through federal Good Neighbor Authority agreements. Lead agencies must file exemption notices with the Office of Land Use and Climate Innovation and county clerks, post notices online with links to federal environmental review documents, and submit documentation to the Department of Forestry and Fire Protection when it is not the lead agency. The bill maintains existing provisions allowing the Natural Resources Agency Secretary to report substantial changes in federal environmental laws affecting California forest management to the Legislature by February 2027.

    While extending CEQA exemptions creates a state-mandated local program through ongoing procedural requirements, the bill specifies that local agencies and school districts require no state reimbursement, as they retain authority to levy service charges and fees sufficient to cover associated costs. The measure preserves current grant-making authorities for forest health projects and advance payment provisions for eligible entities, including tribes, nonprofits, and local agencies.

    10% progression
    Bill has been formally introduced and read for the first time in its house of origin (2/4/2025)

    Key Dates

    Next Step
    Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Natural Resources
    Next Step
    Assembly Committee
    Referred to the Assembly Standing Committee on Natural Resources
    Hearing has not been scheduled yet
    Read first time. To print.
    Assembly Floor
    Read first time. To print.
    Read first time. To print.

    Contacts

    Profile
    Al MuratsuchiD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Ash KalraD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Heath FloraR
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Buffy WicksD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    Profile
    Isaac BryanD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Not Contacted
    Not Contacted
    0 of 16 row(s) selected.
    Page 1 of 4
    Select All Legislators
    Profile
    Al MuratsuchiD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Ash KalraD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Heath FloraR
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Buffy WicksD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Isaac BryanD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Matt HaneyD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Juan AlanisR
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Damon ConnollyD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Josh HooverR
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Gail PellerinD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Kate SanchezR
    Assemblymember
    Bill Author
    Profile
    Rick ZburD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Robert GarciaD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Alexandra MacedoR
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Rhodesia RansomD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member
    Profile
    Nick SchultzD
    Assemblymember
    Committee Member

    Similar Past Legislation

    Bill NumberTitleIntroduced DateStatusLink to Bill
    California Environmental Quality Act: exemption: prescribed fire, thinning, and fuel reduction projects.
    January 2021
    Failed
    View Bill
    Showing 1 of 1 items
    Page 1 of 1